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Cool as a cucumber

Jordan Ayew was surprisingly overlooked when Steve Bruce announced his last two starting line-ups. Somehow, I think he will be back in the fold when Villa take on Fulham this weekend.

Introduced late on as a substitute, Ayew won and converted the penalty to give Villa a much-needed away win.

The way he converted the penalty was so cool. “He stuttered didn’t he?” said Bruce who couldn’t bare to watch. “I don’t care, he tucked it away!”

Kodjia’s versatility

Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa celebrates

Two goals in two games. That’s more like it from the £11m man. Importantly, he’s also proving to be a very valuable member of the team, fitting into different positions when he’s asked to. Already this season we’ve seen him play up front, wide right, and at Reading, wide left.

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Bruce wanted five men in midfield to help stifle Villa’s opponents and that meant that Kodjia had to track back and defend when his side were out of possession.

Jose Mourinho asked Marcus Rashford to do a similar job for Manchester United against Liverpool and both forwards responded. Oh to be a goal-getter these days, eh!

Aston Villa players and fans celebrate the winning goal at Reading

Fight for your life

In just a matter of days, Bruce has managed to get his Villa team fighting. The way some of the previous under-performers ran around for the cause was so impressive. Villa need more of that now in the future.

Price tags mean nothing

Jordan Ayew

Ross McCormack and Ayew cost Villa a combined fee of almost £25m but that didn’t influence Bruce’s thinking when he named his team for this encounter.

He’s under no pressure to pick any individual player and clearly dropping McCormack down to the bench is a message that he needs to stand-out to keep his place.

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Bruce won’t pick players for a sentimental value either as he proved by keeping Aaron Tshibola on the bench against his former club. This boss wants results and will only select the team he feels is strong enough to win the game.

Andre Green is well admired

Andre Green

After watching the flying wideman in action for the U23s on Tuesday night, Bruce decided to include the teenager in the first-team squad.

He didn’t have his best night in the 2-0 win over West Ham at the Banks’s Stadium however he did provide a moment of magic with a fine cross to tee-up Corey Blackett-Taylor for the opening goal.

Clearly Bruce likes the look of him which is good news for Villa’s academy. It’s about time another player made the break through.